Nikon or Canon ?

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alexam

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Malcolm
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With all the choices of the slightly better cameras around today, I am somewhat confused and looking for the 'magic' answers, which I doubt are easily available.

Subject to the eventual 'feel' of the camera being OK and bearing in mind that I do not have either model now, so no existing lens considerations, I do not need, or particularly want video, although not bothered if it's included, but why pay for something not being used?

Interested in all kinds of shots, landscapes, portrait, wildlife and macro, but I do like a good zoom lens, although something too bulky is a distraction when out and about. The crop on Canon & Nikon are slightly different so a 200mm lens will be higher, but not sure if the Canon or Nikon is higher in effect.

I have been looking at the Nikon D90 and the Canon 50D as a couple of possibilities within the price range and appreciate that the lens cost could add £1000 to the body price foe something reasonable.

Can anyone give me other suggestions within Nikon & Canon to consider at this time and would I be wiser to consider NEW rather than risk a used version off the web or TP, no knowing the seller? :shrug:

Thanks
Malcolm
 
i had a fuji s9600, made the move to canon and bought a 450d which was brilliant for the money then after a couple of months ive now got a 50d...

wouldnt look back, and nikon seems all too confusing, but thats just my preference :D
 
Crop is x1.5 Nikon, x1.6 Canon, but in real terms you won't notice.

Canon has a better range of semi-pro f/4 lenses.
Nikon flash system is better

IQ pretty much equal given comparable circumstances.

Which do you prefer to hold and use. Menu systems are different, and it will be the one that makes more sense for you which is the one to go for.

Secondhand - plenty of bargains, do your due diligence on the seller first and weigh up the risks.
 
I think this is one of those debates that will rage for ever. I ended up with Canon, but thats only because I had asked the same question over and over, and got no definitive answer. I actually now think thats because there isnt one!

If you have no existing brand loyalty, then feel is the key. Try them both, buy the one you prefer. It's you thats got to use it at the end of the day, nobody else.
 
Whether you buy new or secondhand, go to the shops and try them all.

If you ask here all the Canon owners will say get Canon, all the Nikon owners will say get Nikon and the token Pentax(:D) owner will say buy Olympus.

We buy the camera we use because we like it.

you need to buy the one you like to hold, has a menu and control system you like and fits your budget.
 
I don't get the Canon layout at all, I find them quite slow to use. But that's just personal preference, it is exactly the opposite for many people. Just go out and try Canon and Nikon, get the one you like the feel of best, either system has a great selection of lenses and accessories and will produce very similar images. You won't regret either decision! :D
 
Fondle, see which one you prefer the feel of, button placement and menus etc, purchase and take photos. Its all that we can recommend sensibly!
 
Its more about ergonomics, your hands, and what feels comfy. On a Nikons you can do pretty much everything with your fingers. On the Canons, they seem to be more menu driven

Canons tend to have heavier handed anti-alaising filters, which im my opinion makes images look softer

However

Nowadays, we are really comparing one supercar with another, when in reality we are driving them all on public roads. Hence - go with the one that feels natural in your hands, regardless of what the hype says

As a footnote. I have used Nikon film cameras for 30 years, and Nikon digital (and the derivatives - Kodak, Fuji) for 10 years, and I am still sharing lenses between the lot, including the camera I brought 30 years ago. In otherwords, whatever you choose now, you are likley to stick with for the journey
 
I bought a Nikon D3000 and really liked the build quality but the iso struggled with anything above 800 , Went to trade it in ( after only 3 weeks ) for a D90 and after taking a few pictures found that the iso was still struggling at iso above 1600 this time so the dealer through a 2nd hand (like new ) 5D MK1 into the options :) ended up buying the canon as it copes alot brtter in the low light of the ice rinks that I want to use it in , and the build quality on the higher end Canons are very good , although the Nikons do look more modern .
I also find the choice of lenses to be more now I am shopping for the Canon
 
PsiFox said:
Whether you buy new or secondhand, go to the shops and try them all.

If you ask here all the Canon owners will say get Canon, all the Nikon owners will say get Nikon and the token Pentax(:D) owner will say buy Olympus......
Click to expand...

Have you considered Olympus or Pentax? :lol::lol::lol::lol:

As a non Canon / non Nikon user........... and considering like for like models, one is not better than the other per se - generally features and specs will be reasonably similar............. so it's whatever you feel comfortable with.........

One thing that may be worth considering........... do you have a togging buddy who is say a canon affecianado and has a rucksack full of "white glass" - if so may be worth considering buying into one system if you can borrow equipment etc........:shrug:
 
janbokev said:
I bought a Nikon D3000 and really liked the build quality but the iso struggled with anything above 800 , Went to trade it in ( after only 3 weeks ) for a D90 and after taking a few pictures found that the iso was still struggling at iso above 1600 this time so the dealer through a 2nd hand (like new ) 5D MK1 into the options :) ended up buying the canon as it copes alot brtter in the low light of the ice rinks that I want to use it in , and the build quality on the higher end Canons are very good , although the Nikons do look more modern .
I also find the choice of lenses to be more now I am shopping for the Canon
Click to expand...


Wierdest thing.. I cant rememember the last time I went over ISO 640

I think the issue with your ice rinks is how you are metering, not the cameras
 
Lynton said:
Have you considered Olympus or Pentax? :lol::lol::lol::lol:

As a non Canon / non Nikon user........... and considering like for like models, one is not better than the other per se - generally features and specs will be reasonably similar............. so it's whatever you feel comfortable with.........

One thing that may be worth considering........... do you have a togging buddy who is say a canon affecianado and has a rucksack full of "white glass" - if so may be worth considering buying into one system if you can borrow equipment etc........:shrug:
Click to expand...


issue is - if you get bit by the bug, the choice of lenses, flashguns and acessories is very limited on the Non Nikon/Canon range of cameras. Yes the others makes are good, but unfortunatally undersuported
 
Richard King said:
issue is - if you get bit by the bug, the choice of lenses, flashguns and acessories is very limited on the Non Nikon/Canon range of cameras. Yes the others makes are good, but unfortunatally undersuported
Click to expand...

did you mean to say that nokon and conon have less limits than other brands

Cheers Steve
 
steve_lyt said:
did you mean to say that nokon and conon have less limits than other brands

Cheers Steve
Click to expand...
yes

Nikon & Canon have a very wide range of different lenses available at different price points, from different manufacturers - there is a lot of choice

Olympus / Sony have a much more limited range of lenses available, made by fewer manufacturers, at more limiting price points

Same thing applies to flash & most other accessories
 
I have to agree with Mark (PsiFox) buy the one you like and feel comfortable with, there is nothing worse than getting a camera and afterwards thinking 'I'm not sure I like this camera'.

Another point to think about is try and buy from a local shop if possible because if anything goes wrong with it then you can take it back and get it sorted rather than wait god knows how long to get it sent back to be repaired and then returned to you. Some people on these threads have waited months to get their camera's back and have been charged the earth as well.
 
Mike.P said:
What's wrong with Sony? :D
Click to expand...

Nothing - but you are tied int a very limited range of lenses and accessories. Thier sensor implementation is not as good as Nikon or Canon (noisier, and less resolving power)
 
Hi Wes,
thanks for the reply. You certainly take some great shots. Were the birds mainly done with the 300mm prime canon, as that's the sort of shots I would like to do?.

Appreciate your input.

Malcolm
 
Thanks Andrew,

It was a thought about lenses as I would like a few, but may need to build up gradually. The cost of lenses is an issue, but my thinking is that if a good bit of glass comes onto TP, then it should be ok if the seller is 'established'. Therefore the lens cost may be lowered?

Malcolm
 
Thanks Jan .... and so many others who have replied. I do appreciate the help from the TP bunch!

The D50 seems to offer a good deal, but the 5D Mkll is to high a price at present. If I do become the next David Bailey (Ho Ho) then I can upgrade, but feel that this initial upgrade will probably be the last due to my age and the fact that the 'better half' may not look too kindly on me splashing out for another upgrade after this one.... bless her!

Off to my first club shoot this evening with the Fuji S9600, which I am still getting to know the various buttons, but appreciate that it is only a 'bridge' camera. ?? Would a good D300 be worth consideration?

Cheers all

Malcolm
 
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janbokev said:
I bought a Nikon D3000 and really liked the build quality but the iso struggled with anything above 800 , Went to trade it in ( after only 3 weeks ) for a D90 and after taking a few pictures found that the iso was still struggling at iso above 1600 this time so the dealer through a 2nd hand (like new ) 5D MK1 into the options :) ended up buying the canon as it copes alot brtter in the low light of the ice rinks that I want to use it in , and the build quality on the higher end Canons are very good , although the Nikons do look more modern .
I also find the choice of lenses to be more now I am shopping for the Canon
Click to expand...

I don't feel its very fair to compare the 5D (pro spec body) with the d3000 or d90 as they are both entry/amateur models :shrug:

But yes this illustrates that you shouldn't be affected by the brand, just get whatever will do the job best in the price range :thumbs: Down with the fanboys.
 
I was in the same position a few years ago. I was more attracted to the nikons. I researched all of the lenses and even looked at other peoples work to see what kit they used.
I was still very keen on nikon.
However I went to the shops and grabbed ahold of the bodies (with the kit lens and battery included).
The navigation and operation of both felt very good. However the canon just felt that little bit more accommodating to my grip. I went back three or four times to convince myself that a canon may be the better choice.

I went ahead with the 40D and have never regretted it. I can cradle it in my hands a lot more steadily than nikons, and I reap the rewards for it.

I still think nikons look beter :bang:


My advice would be to choose the spec of the camera you wish to purchase, and then manage to get ahold of both brands for a tryout. My palm ached after 20 minutes of holding the nikon, and so it really helped my decision.
 
just ftr I've owned Sony, Nikon and Canon. Personally I just prefer the look and feel of Nikon, and out of the three I liked Canon (40D) the least. Not saying it was bad, just the Nikon feels more user friendly
 
Hi David,

thanks for the input. I had developed a leaning towards Nikon simply because, in my own, uneducated viewpoint, they seemed like Rolls Royce ( no quips on what happened there!)

However, by the time the costs of everything are added up, for instance I will need a good off camera flash, so the S800-900 for Nikon and the opposite for Canon, will add another £300 or so. A good zoom lens ..... would like the 70-200 F2.8 if allowed, but is there s-o-o-o-o-o much difference in the 3.5 at my stage? I don't think I would want to move away to other brands that are talked about a lot..... stick with the model of the eventual camera.

I am also a bit nervous of spending lots of time handling the cameras in a shop. I know I must do it, and expect that the salespersons half expect a few buyers to take time and perhaps go in a couple of times at lease. I will buy new from a shop locally, possibly Jessops, as they seem to be the ones in predominance in the Midlands and although they charge a little more, if anything does go wrong, it's easier to go local.

Still pondering and buying all the books I can lay my hands on.... like The Moment it Clicks and The Hot Shoe Diaries by Joe MCNally .... just arrived today from Amazon and in good time as I have just finished the 3rd Scott Kelby Digital Photography, so they are in good time.

Thanks again all

Malcolm

PS .................... anyone know why the enrty in the column 'last post' is blank? Has there been a glitch in the TP system or something I have done *******
 
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